Child Abuse Investigation In Nic Cage Arrest

4/25/2011 6:31 PM PDT BY TMZ STAFF

A child abuse detective was called in to investigate Nic Cage on the night of his drunken arrest -- after a witness told police he saw Cage pull his 5-year-old son to the ground during an alcohol-fueled argument with his wife ... this according to the New Orleans PD.

According to the police report, Cage's wife Alice told police she and Nic had been arguing on the night of April 15 "due to his intoxicated state" ... when they went to pick up their son from a friend's house. FYI -- Alice was in the driver's seat.

Alice told cops ... she and Nic continued to argue until they arrived at their home -- at which point she claims, "Mr Cage fell while holding their son. The fall caused the 5 year old to suffer a minor abrasion to his left knee."

But a witness told cops a slightly different story -- saying he saw "Mr. Cage pull the male child to the ground by his hand."

According to the report, "A child abuse detective was notified."

Cops say they wanted to interview Cage's son -- but Alice wouldn't let that happen.

As for Cage, cops described him as "hysterical" and "irrational" when they interviewed him after the incident.

TMZ broke the story -- Cage was eventually arrested for domestic abuse and disturbing the peace after he allegedly grabbed his wife earlier in the evening.